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Original poster

SW coast path - anyone done it? How?

49 replies

YogaLite · 18/08/2019 08:38

Great outdoors a bit quiet so posting here.

Plenty of self-guided walks advice sites but I am struggling to find a companion. Happy to do it a week at a time, don't want to camp so would want b+b. There are some companies organising guided walks but they don't seem to be taking in the whole path.

Any inspiration?

OP posts:
AngelasAshes · 18/08/2019 13:28

I just read Salt Path an autobiography of a woman and her DH who did the path while homeless (so they wild camped).
I’d like to do it one day...

ZiggyB · 18/08/2019 13:31

I just read that book too. It’s a great read, inspirational and thought provoking.

PrettyShiningPeople · 18/08/2019 13:32

Check out the YouTube series of the couple who walked & camped the whole path. It’s by someone called Darrell Grundy.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Camping
soulrunner · 18/08/2019 13:36

My dad has done it. He did it all in b&Bs/pubs although took a storm shield type 1 man tent for emergencies. It did imply some very short and some very long days but he said that worked out ok. He did it on his own ( coz he’s an antisocial fucker) but no reason you couldn’t as it’s not overly technical.

ZiggyB · 18/08/2019 13:41

Do you need to do the whole path in one go or can you do it in sections?

Plan the first part and then you’ll have a better idea of what to expect when you come to sorting out accommodation going forward?

skinkymalinki · 18/08/2019 13:44

Shameless place marking as I would also love to do this and am wondering weather to find a companion or go it alone

Original poster
YogaLite · 18/08/2019 14:02

Yes, I have read Salt Path and ordered another similar book.
Happy to do it a week/long weekend at a time, not necessarily in one go. For safety reasons I would prefer not to do it on my own and couldn't face a tent.

@skinkymalinki, shall we?? :-)

OP posts:
skinkymalinki · 18/08/2019 15:52

I would love to ..

Am single parent to teens so weekends it would have to be .....

Maybe we should message and see if we could make it work

Original poster
YogaLite · 18/08/2019 18:02

@skinkymalinki, pm'd you.

OP posts:
ZiggyB · 20/08/2019 17:05

@YogaLite ooh do you mind me asking to what the other book is that you ordered?

Original poster
YogaLite · 20/08/2019 18:20

There are 2 I found so far (haven't got time

The electricity of every living thing, a woman's walk in the wild to find her way home

And (love the photo on the cover!):

www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Who-Hated-Walking-South?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Are u coming???
;-)

OP posts:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 20/08/2019 18:27

We used to run a B&B on the Dorset section. We had one lovely American couple who flew over ever year and did a week at a time.

B&B's would be your best bet. You can do baggage transfers between them if you don't want to carry much.

Original poster
YogaLite · 20/08/2019 19:27

@FiveGoMadInDorset
Brilliant name!!! Thank u Smile

Apologies, I haven't quite got the book link right, was dashing out.

OP posts:
ZiggyB · 21/08/2019 05:15
Grin

Thanks for sharing the book titles, might just need to read those myself!

VivaLeBeaver · 21/08/2019 06:24

Dh walked it in 21 days! He camped and carried all his stuff. He says there is a lot of up and down, very, very undulating.

Eatmoremango · 21/08/2019 08:34

I’ve just finished walking the SWCP. It took 61 days spread over 6 years. I walked it with my two kids who were in primary school when we started. It is really beautiful. I’ve walked several long distance trails and the thing I noticed that was different about the SWCP was that you don’t actually meet many people on it (you do meet lots of people but there isn’t a ‘hiker bubble’ of other hikers doing what you are doing). I think this is because most people do it in stages and there are often multiple options for accommodation. We really only met a handful of people in all that time whereas you tend to see the same people every day on the something like the West Highland Way or the Coast to Coast. Nice to have a quick chat on the walk or a debrief after a hard day.

My kids are awesome walkers so don’t mistake them doing it for it being an easy walk. It’s not technically difficult but there are days where the ups and downs never seem to end. For the most part, it’s impossible to get lost, just keep the sea on the same side. It does leave the sea at some places though but is pretty well signposted.

I’d prob ask around and see if I could find someone interested in doing it, even for a long weekend to try it out. The guide book gives examples of good walks on it of varying length. I’d still do it myself if I couldn’t find anyone. There are very few places on it that are remote. Phones work most places. Lots of people are on it doing day walks, heading to the beach, walking their dogs, Geocaching, so it’s not like you’d be stranded for weeks if you need help. It’s also nice to go at your own pace. It’s worth remembering that even if you do the hike with someone, you don’t need to stay right by their side. Meet at the next town for scones.

Good luck.

FiveGoMadInDorset · 21/08/2019 08:55

@vivalebeaver the section where we are is horrendous for hills

Original poster
YogaLite · 21/08/2019 16:06

@VivaLeBeaver
@Eatmoremango
Thank you, you are such an inspiration!

I can see it as a lifetime adventure for various reasons however long it takes.

Can't wait to get going and yes, it might have to be spread a bit but it's such a beautiful part of the country that I am surprised not many do it!

Hopefully starting this year :-)

OP posts:
dimsum123 · 21/08/2019 16:14

I've done sections of it. Earlier this year we did Sennen Cove to Porthcurno. I'd booked tickets for the Minack Theatre so we planned it so we got to Porthcurno in time for a dip in the sea, a cup of tea and something to eat before the theatre. The walk took about 3-4 hours, we stopped loads along the way for photos and to just take in the views.

Did another section from Penzance to Praa Sands, again stunning and Praa Sands beach is so beautiful.

Planning on trying to do a section a year!

scoobyd2 · 21/08/2019 16:34

Some places that do accommodation on long distance paths can also offer transport at the start/end of each day, so you could potentially just book into one place for a week and get dropped off each morning where you finished the day before. Might be worth looking for places that offer that if you're doing it in week-long sections.

HippyChickMama · 21/08/2019 16:39

I'd love to do this! Dh and I have talked about doing it when the dc are grown up so 10-12 years to go! Have you read 500 mile walkies by Mark Wallington?

MrsTishellsNeckBrace · 21/08/2019 17:16

There is an updated book by Paddy Dillon on paddydillon.co.uk ( I can’t link as on an unsecured network ) about walking the SWCP. Amazon also sell it but check out edition.

Original poster
YogaLite · 21/08/2019 18:43

Oooh, just found 2 more books:

Follow the acorn by J Haughton and Just off for a walk by S Reynolds.

Will be reading them all!

OP posts:
Springfern · 21/08/2019 19:02

I've been doing it very slowly in sections of 2-3 days. I've done about half so far and have loved every minute. I'd love to tag along with you/a group for another section! PM me x

swimlyn · 21/08/2019 19:48

Not walked much of it, but visited parts of it in many different places.

Starts at Minehead seafront, halfway between the railway station and the harbour, (just north of the Red Lion Hotel) and it ends 630 miles later at South Haven Point, Poole.

You would almost certainly enjoy “Five Hundred Mile Walkies” by Mark Wallington. It has to be the perfect travelogue for this area.

As it is out of print, you’ll need to use abebooks or something similar.